MacRumors

Apple is set to be hit with a €500 million ($538 million) fine for allegedly breaking EU law over access to music streaming services, according to a Financial Times report.

The focus of the European Commission's investigation has been Apple's policy of preventing streaming music apps from informing iPhone and iPad users within the app that lower subscription prices are available when signing up outside of the App Store.

The investigation began in 2019 after Spotify filed an antitrust complaint against Apple. EU regulators formally charged Apple in the anti-competitive probe in 2021, before the commission last year narrowed the scope of the investigation and dropped a charge of pushing developers to use its own in-app payment system.

According to the paywalled FT report, the Commission will say Apple's actions are illegal and go against the bloc's rules that enforce competition in the single market. Subsequently, it will ban Apple's practice of blocking music services from letting users outside its App Store switch to cheaper alternatives, which has historically given Apple Music an unfair advantage.

The investigation's conclusion will essentially rubber stamp the Commission's preliminary view that Apple's rules equate to "anti-steering" and "unfair trading conditions," in breach of EU antitrust law. The Commission previously said that the rules are "detrimental to users of music streaming services on Apple's mobile devices" given they may end up paying more and "negatively affect the interests of music streaming app developers by limiting effective consumer choice."

Developers are permitted by Apple's App Store Review Guidelines to notify users of alternative buying options through external communications, like email. Apps categorized as "reader" apps, including Spotify, have the ability to incorporate a link in their app directing users to their website for account management. However, Spotify is still not allowed to promote its reduced subscription rates offered on its website directly from within its iPhone app.

Apple has never previously been fined for antitrust infringements by the EU, but it was hit in 2020 with a €1.1 billion ($1.19 billion) fine in France for alleged anti-competitive behaviour. The penalty was revised down to €372 million after Apple appealed.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

In addition to great deals on MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, Best Buy this weekend has deep markdowns on a variety of iPads. This includes all-time low prices on the 10th generation iPad and 5th generation iPad Air, as well as a few solid discounts on iPad mini 6 and 9th generation iPad.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

iPad

The cheapest iPad in this sale is the 64GB Wi-Fi 9th generation iPad at $249.99, down from $329.00. For a more recent model, Best Buy has the 64GB Wi-Fi 10th generation iPad at $349.00, which is an all-time low price at $100 off.

Otherwise, you'll find every model of the 10th generation iPad on sale at a record low price during this sale. This includes all Wi-Fi and cellular tablets, in all colors.

iPad Air

Similarly, Best Buy has every model of the 5th generation iPad Air on sale at an all-time low price, starting at $449.99 for the 64GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $599.00. These are $150 off across the board, and Best Buy is currently the only retailer online that has every model in every color on sale.

iPad Mini

Lastly, the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6 is down to $399.99 this weekend at Best Buy, from $499.00. You can also get the 256GB Wi-Fi tablet for $549.99, which is another $99 discount. These two sales are second-best prices on the iPad mini 6.

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Best Buy has a big Presidents' Day sale happening this weekend, and it includes some of the best prices we've ever seen on Apple's MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. This event will last through the weekend and end on Monday, February 19. Our article from yesterday has a deeper dive into everything being discounted during the sale.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Some of these deals (particularly the MacBook Pro discounts) require a My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total membership, which start at $49.99/year. In addition to exclusive access to select discounts, you'll get free 2-day shipping, an extended 60-day return window, and more.

MacBook Air

The highlight of the MacBook Air deals is on the 256GB M2 15-inch MacBook Air, priced at $999.00, down from $1,299.00. You can also get the 512GB M2 model on sale at $1,199.00, down from $1,499.00. Both of these $300 discounts are a match for the best prices we've ever seen on the M2 15-inch MacBook Air.

You can also find solid discounts on the M2 13-inch MacBook Air and M1 13-inch MacBook Air during Best Buy's new sale. Prices on the M2 models begin at $949.00 and prices on the M1 models begin at $749.99, both of which are matching previous record low discounts.

MacBook Pro

There are a few more MacBook Pro discounts than MacBook Air discounts, but they will all require a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership. If you don't have one, you can still get solid second-best prices on these computers at Best Buy this weekend.

Some of the highlights include the 512GB M3 14-inch MacBook Pro for $1,399.00 and the 512GB M3 Pro model at $1,749.00. In total, you'll find up to $250 off these computers, and there are also a few 16-inch models on sale this weekend as well.

Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

Amazon today has the Apple Pencil 2 for the new all-time low price of $79.00, down from $129.00. There's an estimated delivery date of Monday, February 19 for Prime members, and no coupon code is required to get this deal.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

This is the first major discount on the Apple Pencil 2 in 2024, and it beats the low price we tracked during the holidays by about $10. The Apple Pencil 2 is compatible with the following iPads: iPad mini (6th generation), iPad Air (4th generation and later), 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation and later), and 11-inch iPad Pro (1st generation and later).

If you have the newest iPad Pro models, the second-generation Apple Pencil can now be detected while hovering up to 12mm above the display. This allows users to see a preview of their drawing before they make it, and with Scribble text fields automatically expand when the pencil gets near the screen.

If you're looking for the Apple Pencil with USB-C that launched in 2023, Amazon has a smaller $10 discount on that model. It's available for $69.99, down from $79.00. Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Apple's next set of product releases is likely coming up quickly, with a number of Mac and iPad updates reportedly set for next month. Major changes to iOS are coming to residents of the European Union around the same time, while rumors continue to circulate about a potential HomePod with a full display.

Other news this week included fresh rumors about the iPhone 16 lineup and iOS 18 coming later in the year, while Apple is investigating reports of screen-related issues on the latest Apple Watch models, so read on below for all the details!

New MacBook Airs and iPads, iOS 17.4, and More Expected Next Month

Now that Apple has launched its Vision Pro headset, attention has shifted towards what is next on the company's agenda.

As usual, March should be a busy time for Apple, as the company is expected to release new MacBook Air, iPad Pro, and iPad Air models during the month. In a recent press release, Apple also confirmed that the iOS 17.4 update for the iPhone will be released in March.

For more information, read our recap of what to expect from Apple in March.

iPhone 16 Rumored to Feature 'Significantly' Upgraded Neural Engine for iOS 18's Generative AI Features

Apple's next-generation A18 and M4 chips for iPhone 16 models and future Macs will feature upgraded Neural Engines with "significantly" more cores, according to Taiwan's Economic Daily News.

iOS 18 is rumored to include new generative AI features for Siri, Shortcuts, Messages, Apple Music, and more, and an upgraded Neural Engine would boost performance for AI/machine learning tasks. Xcode may also gain an AI tool.

tvOS 17.4 Allegedly Hints at HomePod With Display

The tvOS 17.4 beta for the Apple TV allegedly includes code-level references to an unreleased HomePod with a built-in display, according to 9to5Mac.

Last year, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that Apple would release a new HomePod with a 7-inch screen in the first half of 2024, so the device could be nearing launch, barring any delays. Apple often holds its first media event of the year in March.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Says Quest 3 is Better Than Apple Vision Pro

In a video shared on his Instagram page this week, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said his company's Quest 3 mixed reality headset is better than Apple's Vision Pro headset for the majority of tasks.

Zuckerberg provided many reasons for his opinion, as outlined in our coverage. In the U.S., the Quest 3 starts at $499.99, making it a much more affordable option compared to the Vision Pro, which starts at $3,499.

iOS 18: All the Rumors and New Features Expected So Far

iOS 18 is still months away from being unveiled, but there are already rumors and expectations for the software update, as outlined in our recap.

iOS 18 is rumored to include new ChatGPT-like generative AI features for Siri and select apps, and RCS support in the Messages app for an improved texting experience with Android users. A sketchy rumor claimed that iOS 18 will also have some visionOS-inspired design changes.

Apple Investigating Screen-Related Issue Affecting Some Apple Watches

In an internal memo shared with Apple Authorized Service Providers last week, Apple said it is "investigating" a screen-related issue affecting some Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 displays.

​"Some customers may report their Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch Ultra 2 is experiencing false touches on their display," the memo says. The issue may cause the screen on affected Apple Watch models to "jump erratically" or exhibit other unexpected behavior, without any user interaction.

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Earlier this week, Peloton said that it would drop support for Apple's GymKit feature that syncs data to the Health app. Customers were unhappy with the decision and complained to the company, leading Peloton to announce a change in plans.

Peloton on Thursday said that after listening to member feedback on GymKit, the integration will continue to be offered.

Peloton wanted to stop offering GymKit integration in favor of the Peloton One-Tap tracking feature, but GymKit has been a key feature on the $2,500 Bike+ since its 2020 debut, and other Peloton machines since 2022.

The One-Tap tracking app does monitor distance, pace, and heart rate metrics, but only basic information is synced to the Apple Health app. With GymKit, data like cadence, average speed, and average power is also available in the Health app for Peloton users.

Today marks the two-week anniversary of the Apple Vision Pro launch, and the last day for returns for those who purchased on release day. With plenty of stories going around from those who decided not to keep the $3,500 device, MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera thought he'd share some of the reasons why he'll be keeping his headset.

We need to have a few Vision Pro headsets on hand to write about them here at MacRumors, so that's one of the primary reasons that Dan will be keeping his. Apple is already working on visionOS 2, and we're interested in seeing what changes and updates are in store. We're also getting new apps on a regular basis, all of which make the Vision Pro a more appealing device.

The Vision Pro is the best way to be immersed in a movie, especially 3D movies, and that's another key reason why Dan won't be bringing his back to the Apple Store. The Cinema Environment that shuts out the world is hard to beat because it's basically your own personal movie theater.

Working on the Vision Pro needs some improvement, perhaps with support for multiple Mac displays, but it's useful when traveling with a laptop. It would also be nice to be able to use a mouse, but Magic Keyboard and Trackpad input work well enough.

There are some downsides to the Vision Pro. It's hard to wear for more than about an hour, the battery life is awful, and it doesn't hold a charge at all when not in use. Touch typing with the air keyboard is a poor experience, Personas need a lot of work to be less creepy, there still aren't a whole lot of groundbreaking app experiences, and Guest Mode is awful, so it is fully understandable why we're hearing a lot of return stories.

Make sure to watch Dan's full video to get his thoughts on the Vision Pro after two weeks, and let us know if you kept or returned your Vision Pro in the comments below.

Following our previous in-depth coverage of the iPhone 16 and the various camera bump designs Apple has tested for it, new information has surfaced on social media website X from user Majin Bu. Although this user has a mixed track record, they have occasionally provided accurate information on the design of upcoming iPhones, and their latest post could very well be our first look at a genuine ‌iPhone 16‌ part.

In their post, Bu shared an image of what appears to be the main camera chassis for the base model ‌iPhone 16‌, featuring a vertical camera layout. Although the part image was posted upside down, as pointed out by users replying to Bu's post, this does not affect the authenticity of the component itself.

MacRumors is able to independently verify the authenticity of the component design pictured above. Through our industry sources, we are able to confirm that the item featured in Bu’s post is the main camera chassis for the I-34 camera project, intended for use in the base model ‌iPhone 16‌ set to be released later this year.

This latest component leak aligns with multiple reports concerning the new vertical camera layout Apple has planned for the ‌iPhone 16‌. As seen in our December report on early iPhone 16 prototypes, along with our coverage of more recent internal designs, Apple has decided to align the cameras vertically, as opposed to the current diagonal layout found on the base model iPhone 15 and ‌iPhone‌ 15 Plus. By employing a vertical camera layout, Apple could bring Spatial Video recording to the base model ‌iPhone 16‌, expanding the feature's overall availability to the entire ‌iPhone 16‌ range.

Along with the vertical camera layout, the ‌iPhone 16‌ is also expected to receive the Action button as a carryover from the ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro, and will have an additional Capture button featuring force-sensor technology, located on the right side of the device.

For additional information on what to expect with this year’s new iPhones, check out our dedicated rumor roundup pages for iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro.

Best Buy kicked off a new Presidents' Day sale that will last all weekend and end on Monday. As is typical of Best Buy's sales, this one covers a wide selection of products including TVs, video games, smartphones, and Apple products.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

In terms of Apple devices, you'll find great discounts on iPads, MacBooks, and Apple Watches. We've collected all of these products that are on sale below, with a few non-Apple discounts as well. Remember that all of these deals are expected to expire on Monday.

Some of these deals require a My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total membership, which start at $49.99/year. In addition to exclusive access to select discounts, you'll get free 2-day shipping, an extended 60-day return window, and more.

TVs

• 50-inch Toshiba LED 4K Smart TV - $249.99, down from $319.99
• 55-inch Toshiba LED 4K Smart TV - $269.99, down from $429.99
• 85-inch Samsung Crystal UHD 4K Smart TV - $799.99, down from $1,299.99
• 65-inch Sony Bravia OLED 4K Smart TV - $1,499.99, down from $1,999.99
• 65-inch LG OLED 4K Smart TV - $1,599.99, down from $2,099.99
• 77-inch Samsung OLED 4K Smart TV - $1,799.99, down from $3,599.99

MacBook Pro

• 512GB M3 14-inch MacBook Pro - $1,399.00, down from $1,599.00
• 1TB M3 14-inch MacBook Pro - $1,599.00, down from $1,799.00
• 512GB M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro - $1,749.00, down from $1,999.00
• 1TB M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro - $2,149.00, down from $2,399.00
• 512GB M3 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro - $2,249.00, down from $2,499.00
• 1TB M3 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro - $3,249.00, down from $3,499.00

MacBook Air

• 256GB M1 13-inch MacBook Air - $749.99, down from $999.00
• 256GB M2 13-inch MacBook Air - $949.00, down from $1,099.00
• 512GB M2 13-inch MacBook Air - $1,199.00, down from $1,399.00
• 256GB M2 15-inch MacBook Air - $999.00, down from $1,299.00
• 512GB M2 15-inch MacBook Air - $1,199.00, down from $1,499.00

iPad

• 64GB Wi-Fi 9th Gen iPad - $249.99, down from $329.00
• 64GB Wi-Fi 10th Gen iPad - $349.00, down from $449.00
• 256GB Wi-Fi 10th Gen iPad - $499.00, down from $599.00
• 64GB Wi-Fi iPad Air - $449.99, down from $599.99
• 256GB Wi-Fi iPad Air - $599.99, down from $749.99
• 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6 - $399.99, down from $499.00
• 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6 - $549.99, down from $649.00

Apple Watch

• Apple Watch SE (40mm GPS) - $189.00, down from $249.00
• Apple Watch SE (44mm GPS) - $219.00, down from $279.00
• Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm GPS) - $349.00, down from $399.00
• Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm GPS) - $379.00, down from $429.00
• Apple Watch Ultra 2 - $749.00, down from $799.00

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

Epic Games today announced plans to bring the ‌Epic Games‌ Store to iOS in the European Union, with Apple reinstating the company's developer account.

In its 2023 Year in Review, Epic said that it received its Apple Developer Account and would soon start developing an alternative app marketplace. The ‌Epic Games‌ Store will launch on iOS in the EU at some point in 2024, and it will provide a way for ‌Epic Games‌ to bring a Fortnite app to iOS once again.

Fortnite was removed from the iOS App Store at the start of the Epic Games v. Apple feud in 2020, and it has been unavailable since then. ‌Epic Games‌ did bring it to iPhones and iPads through Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce NOW, but the game has only been accessible through these browser-based services.

Shortly after Apple's alternative app marketplace plan was announced, ‌Epic Games‌ promised that Fortnite would "return to iOS" in Europe, and at the same time, ‌Epic Games‌ CEO Tim Sweeney lambasted Apple's plan to comply with the DMA. He called it a "devious new instance of Malicious Compliance" and said that the company "strongly reject[s] Apple's twisting this process to undermine competition and continue imposing Apple taxes on transactions they're not involved in."

While working to implement the ‌Epic Games‌ Store on iOS, Epic also plans to continue to "argue to the courts and regulators that Apple is breaking the law."

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through all of the major features and improvements rumored for Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 Pro models.

With the ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup likely just seven months away and after over a year of rumors, we discuss the tentpole features expected on the upcoming devices, such as a 5x tetraprism telephoto camera, an all-new "Capture" button, a new thermal design, exclusive AI features, and larger displays, as well as denser, larger batteries and faster charging. For a full breakdown of all of the differences the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro Max are expected to bring to the table compared to the current models, see our detailed guide:

• iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: 25+ Rumored Upgrades Compared

What do you think about how the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro is shaping up according to rumors? Let us know in the comments.

The MacRumors Show is now on its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips going forward:

You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion with Snazzy Labs' Quinn Nelson about the first week using Apple's long-awaited Vision Pro headset.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests like Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Luke Miani, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.

iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will include a "slew of new AI features," according to a report this week from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

The report claims that Apple is training both Siri and the iPhone's built-in Spotlight search tool on large language models, with a goal of improving each feature's ability to answer more complex questions accurately. The revamped version of Spotlight could also offer deeper integration with "specific" functions and features in apps.

Apple has also explored AI-powered features that would allow users to automatically generate playlists in Apple Music and presentation slides in the Keynote app, the report said. Other apps that are rumored to gain deeper AI integration in iOS 18 include Health, Messages, Numbers, Pages, and Shortcuts, and there will likely be more.

On an earnings call this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company was working on generative AI and would share details "later this year." Apple is expected to announce iOS 18 at its annual developers conference WWDC in June, and the update should be released in September. Some new AI features announced later could be exclusive to iPhone 16 models, which are rumored to get a "significantly" upgraded Neural Engine.

Beyond iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, Gurman said Apple is planning to add some new AI features to macOS 15, and to its app development tool Xcode.

Apple's AirPods Max hit their lowest price since Black Friday this week, accompanied by great discounts all around on nearly every other AirPods model. We're also tracking a big sale on the Apple Studio Display at $300 off, as well as sales on AirTags, iPads, Apple Watches, and more.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Studio Display

• What's the deal? Get $300 off the Apple Studio Display
• Where can I get it? Amazon

This week we saw the first major discount on the Apple Studio Display in months, with prices starting at $1,299.99 for the standard glass model with a tilt-adjustable stand. You can also find deals on the tilt- and height-adjustable stand, as well as the nano-texture glass model.

AirPods

• What's the deal? Get up to $99 off AirPods models
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Big savings can be found this week on every current model of the AirPods, including all-time low prices on the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C and AirPods 3. These sales can all be found on Amazon, and also include great discounts on the AirPods 2 as well as a rare $99 markdown on the AirPods Max.

AirTag

• What's the deal? Get up to $20 off AirTag
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

One of the best discounts since the holidays arrived this week for Apple's AirTag 4 Pack, available for $78.99, down from $99.00. You can also get the AirTag 1 Pack for $24.00, down from $29.00.

iPad Air

• What's the deal? Get $150 off 5th gen iPad Air
• Where can I get it? Best Buy
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Best Buy introduced a notable sale on 5th generation iPad Air tablets this week, knocking every model down by $150. You'll find all-time low prices across the board in this sale, starting at $449.99 for the 64GB Wi-Fi tablet.

iPad

• What's the deal? Get $100 off 10th gen iPad
• Where can I get it? Best Buy
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Similar to the iPad Air, Best Buy this week also introduced big markdowns on the 10th generation iPad, with $100 off every model. Every one of these is an all-time low price, starting at $349.00 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model.

MacBook Air

• What's the deal? Get up to $300 off MacBook Air
• Where can I get it? Best Buy
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Apple's 15-inch M2 MacBook Air and 13-inch M1 MacBook Air both hit record low prices this week, with up to $300 off select models at Best Buy.

MacBook Pro

• What's the deal? Get up to $250 off MacBook Pro
• Where can I get it? Best Buy
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

My Best Buy Plus and Total members can get record low discounts on Apple's newest M3 MacBook Pro notebooks right now. If you don't have a membership, you can still get solid second-best prices on these computers.

Apple Watch SE

• What's the deal? Get $60 off Apple Watch SE
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Lastly, we're highlighting one of the best ongoing Apple Watch deals at Amazon. You can get the second generation Apple Watch SE for $60 off, starting at just $189.00 for the 40mm GPS model.

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Newly established luxury airline Beond has announced it will offer Apple Vision Pro headsets to select passengers for "an immersive inflight entertainment experience."

The premium leisure airline said it will provide the Apple devices to passengers on its flights to the Maldives, where the airline is based. From the press release:

Beond's Chairman and CEO, Tero Taskila, said: "The Apple Vision Pro will transform the inflight entertainment experience, and we will be first to offer it to select passengers. In addition to our existing and ever-growing library of inflight content such as movies and games, Beond will showcase stunning resort destinations and activities in the Maldives. We are working now with partners in the Maldives to prepare truly amazing footage. The inflight experience will build anticipation for passengers before they arrive in the Maldives. Offering the Apple Vision Pro is another step in our vision of delivering a premium travel experience to our customers, from the start to finish of their journey. We're proud to be the first airline to deploy the technology."

The overall response to ‌Apple Vision Pro‌ from users, critics, and the broader public has been varied. However, the consensus is that wearing the headset during flights stands out as one of its most widely appreciated applications.

Acknowledging the headset's potential to make long-haul flights more private and liberating, Apple has included a Travel mode in visionOS that stabilizes visuals for users on an airplane, allowing them to, for example, watch movies on a massive virtual screen.

Beond said it will offer "Apple's ground-breaking content experience" beginning in July 2024. The news follows Beond's launch of commercial passenger services in 2023 from Munich, Zurich, and Riyadh to Malé, Maldives. Beond says it plans to debut flights from Milan, Dubai, and Bangkok to the Maldives in mid-2024, in an all-lay flat seating configuration.

Apple has suspended its development of a foldable iPhone after supplier displays failed to pass the company's own stringent testing standards, claims a new rumor coming out of China.

According to Fixed Focus Digital, a Weibo-based tech video blogger from Guangdong with a huge Chinese following, Apple has been testing rival foldable phones as part of its research and development process into foldable devices, which is believed to have been going on since 2016.

At least one of the foldables that Apple is said to have been testing uses a display made by Samsung. Samsung is a major supplier of display panels used in Apple devices, and is known to have provided foldable display samples to Apple in the past. A recent report also claimed that Samsung has been attempting to strengthen its operational efficiency in anticipation of Apple's first foldable products by integrating the expertise it has gained making foldable devices since 2019.

However, the source of today's rumor claims that Samsung's latest folding panels "broke down after a few days" under Apple's rigorous internal testing, which has caused Apple to put the entire project on ice for the foreseeable future, or at least until a display that can meet its high standards can be developed.

According to a report from The Information earlier this month, Apple has been actively building prototypes of at least two foldable iPhones following over five years of research and development. The two iPhone prototypes are said to fold widthwise like a clamshell, but do not feature in Apple's product roadmap for 2024 or 2025. The report noted that the foldable iPhones could still be canceled if they do not meet Apple's standards.

The Weibo account purporting to have received information about the foldable project's suspension at Apple is a largely unknown quantity, having no previous track record for Apple rumors to our knowledge, therefore skepticism about its accuracy is warranted.

It's also unclear whether the claim impacts Apple's continuing work on a foldable iPad. Apple is rumored to be more interested in such a device, which could be thicker than a foldable ‌iPhone‌ since users would not expect to carry it in their pocket and it would not need to pass the high durability requirements of an ‌iPhone‌.

Earlier this month, Korean outlet The Elec reported that Apple is considering launching its first foldable in the next few years in the form of a 7- to 8-inch device that could ultimately replace the 8.3-inch iPad mini.

Several of Apple's display suppliers have proposed their prices for supplying OLED displays for the fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Elec reports.

Samsung Display, BOE, and Tianma are all said to have entered their proposed prices for OLED panels for the iPhone SE 4, which is expected to launch next year. Previous iPhone SE models have all used LCD displays.

The report's sources said Samsung offered the lowest unit price of $30, BOE offered $35, and Tianma $40. Apple is reportedly haggling for $20, and negotiations are ongoing. Display manufacturers are believed to have been bidding to supply the panels since at least last August.

The panel prices are said to be a lot lower than suppliers charge for the OLED displays used in the iPhone 15, because the panels for the SE will use legacy parts identical to those used in the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14, so the suppliers won't need to make new investments in R&D.

In that respect, Samsung is said to have an advantage over its rivals since the Korean company can use its existing iPhone 14 OLED inventory.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the fourth-generation ‌iPhone SE‌ will feature a 6.1-inch OLED display with a design similar to the iPhone 14. The ‌iPhone SE‌ 4 is also expected to use the exact same battery found in the base model iPhone 14.

In addition, the new model is likely to be equipped with an Action button and USB-C port, which we've covered extensively in previous reports. As things stand, it could be one of the first devices to feature an Apple-designed modem chip, too.

Microsoft does not plan to bring an Xbox Cloud Gaming app to iOS at this time because there's no opportunity for monetization, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said in an interview with The Verge. When asked whether Apple's recent app ecosystem changes in the European Union make "room" for Xbox Cloud Gaming on iOS, Spencer said that monetization was an issue, and that the Digital Markets Act forcing Apple's updates does not "go far enough to open up competition."

There's not room for us to monetize Xbox Cloud Gaming on iOS. I think the proposal that Apple put forward -- and I thought Sarah Bond's comments on this were right on -- doesn't go far enough to open up. In fact, you might even say they go the opposite direction in some way, but they definitely don't go far enough to open up competition on the world's largest gaming platform.

We will continue to work with regulators, and Apple and Google, to create a space for alternative storefronts. I'm a big fan of how Windows works, and you've got a Microsoft Store on Windows, you've got Steam, you've got the Epic Games Store, you've got GOG. You have alternatives, and I think alternative ways for people to buy things creates goodness for consumers and creators. I think the largest platform for gamers, which is mobile, should have the same.

Spencer said that earlier comments from Xbox President Sarah Bond were "right on." Back in January, Bond said that Apple's policy is a "step in the wrong direction." According to Spencer, Microsoft plans to continue to work with regulators to "create a space for alternative storefronts."

In the European Union, the Digital Markets Act requires Apple to allow for alternative app marketplaces and alternative payment methods, but Apple is requiring developers who opt to use an alternative app marketplace to agree to new business terms that include a Core Development Fee of .50 euros per user. Companies like Spotify and Epic Games have criticized Apple's implementation of the DMA's requirements. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said that Apple's plan is a "complete and total farce," while Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said Apple's implementation is a "devious new instance of malicious compliance."

Alongside the changes in the European Union under the DMA, Apple also changed its App Store policies around cloud gaming apps. Apple now allows streaming game apps on the ‌App Store‌ worldwide, with the apps able to offer a selection of games from within a single app. Previously, cloud gaming services were only available via a web interface.

Apple today stopped signing iOS 17.3, preventing iPhone users from downgrading to that version of iOS. iOS 17.3 is no longer being signed following the February 8 release of iOS 17.3.1, an update that added a fix for a text-related bug.

Apple routinely stops signing older versions of iOS, so it is not unusual that the iOS 17.3 update is no longer available. Apple prevents users from installing older versions of iOS to encourage customers to keep their operating systems up to date and to prevent downgrading to older, less secure versions of the ‌iPhone‌ operating system.

iOS 17.3.1 is now the only publicly released version of iOS available, but Apple is also beta testing iOS 17.4. Both developers and public beta testers can download and install iOS 17.4, with the update adding a number of App Store-related changes in the EU, new emoji, transcripts in the Podcasts app, and more.